PDAs at the game table

[Dominic]

I have used Cartoforge, and it has some great features for setting up an adventure, and laying out the specific plot points. The mapping tool takes a little getting used to, but is very full featured for the Palm. My biggest complaint is that while you can sync your adventure to your PC, you cannot then make changes and send the results back to your palm. This means that you will be doing all your typing/writing from the Palm itself - can get tedious.

The PC client is otherwise very nice, and does allow you to save your scenes, and maps to HTML/jpgs which is great for posting to the web for players, or just viewing from your laptop.

I also have used CombatQ for initiative tracking - works well, but still not as useful/fast as putting info on 3x5 cards.

Dice rollers are cool, but there is still nothing to match the moment of expectation between the dice leaving your hand and seeing the result

Still waiting for the "Killer Palm Gaming App"

 

[Dimwhit]

My Palm wouldn't be any good for DMing, but I used to use it for character sheets - I'd design them in Excel and sync them using tinysheet (and latterly documents to go so I could use 320x480 full screen).

What is tinysheet?

I have a character sheet and exp calculator in excel, but I can't use them on my Palm. The reason? Documents To Go can't handle a few calculations in Excel (ROUNDDOWN being one--and one that I use a lot in my sheet), so when I open the file, it's locked and I can't edit this.

Does anyone know of a way around this? Is there another program that can open/edit excel files for the Palm and that can handle all the functions from excel?

 

[Eternalknight]

What is tinysheet?

I have a character sheet and exp calculator in excel, but I can't use them on my Palm. The reason? Documents To Go can't handle a few calculations in Excel (ROUNDDOWN being one--and one that I use a lot in my sheet), so when I open the file, it's locked and I can't edit this.

Does anyone know of a way around this? Is there another program that can open/edit excel files for the Palm and that can handle all the functions from excel?

I'm also having the same problem.

 

[Dimwhit]

OK, I just found Tinysheet: http://www.iambic.com/tinysheet/palmos/

It looks to support the functions I need. However, I'm not sure I can use it with a Mac. Gotta keep looking. (I'm also not sure I want to pay $30.)

 

[d20fool]

Finally got SRD downloaded!

Sounds like you've got an HTML converter you are perfectly happy with, and that's cool.

I ended up using Plucker after all. I had to reinstall it, and restart the computer to get it to parse the thing, all 2.5 megs of it. But it worked. I had to set the limit of links on three to get everything.
Edit: I am still missing artifacts in this version, I cannot get it to compile versions with a depth of 4 links.

I LOVE my SRD on my palm. It's too cool, I can hardly wait to use it at the gaming table. It's very tempting to make an SRD + OGC site with added rules, monsters, spells, variants, and so on. That'll have to be a dream for now.

A lot of people have noted that programs replicate things that are simple to do at the table, and you're right. I however am hoping to get my palm to the point where it helps not only at the game table, but would allow me to DM a game, say, in a moving car (perfect for going to a convention) or running a pickup game easily with a box of miniature character sheets, maps and minis I could keep in my trunk.

Of the programs I've downloaded, here are some reviews:

Combat-Q Nice for initiative tracking, but the price is VERY high for something that can me noted on scratch paper.

Apprentice continues to impress me. I haven't run into any crash issues yet.

D&D tools is great, with XP calculator, travel time calculator, and undead turning calculator. You have to upload a bunch of other programs to make it work though.

DicePro is awesome, 'nuff said

DnD Income is curious, a program to show profitibility of running a medieval tavern. Interesting, apparently well done, but of dubious utility.

DnD Names generates tavern names, group names, and store names. I wonder if the registered version does character names, 'cause that's what I want in a program.

KiRoller, I still haven't figured this one out.

ACE XP Calculator- Nice, although the freeware one above does the same thing to a limited degree. This version tallies but does not give a total (!)Edit: Not true, the total is in the upper part of the screen, apologies. This program rocks. The registered version is suppoused to keep track of XP over time, but I'm not sure that's worth $10.

I haven't used any of these in a session. We'll see how it goes.

 

[d20fool]

Moblie DB and Excel?

Does anyone have the ability to turn Excel Spreadsheet into Mobile DB sheets? I've got some Excel sheets in documents to go, but the DB program is more Palm friendly and allows you to see a whole row at a time (perfect for a monster or spell database.)

I don't want to spend $30 on a program to convert Excel to DB files, and I'm hoping someone here has the program and would be willing to share.

What sort of files would be converted? I've got a spiffy Excel file containing all the SRD monsters and another of 3.5 tables. I would really like to see one on spells. Any pointers?

d20fool

 

[d20fool]

Cartoforge and SRD

Well, I've played around with Cartoforge quite a bit. If you try it, you have to name an "act" and then hit the M button to get to the mapper, which is the most brillant part of this program. Honestly, the little mapper is terrific.

However, the way the program is set up, the mapper is an "extra" and not the feature it should be. I would much rather see these changes.

The ability to add keyed numbers to the map that, when tapped, would lead you to an encounter description.

The adventure portoin set up around encounters, with the ability to add SRD monsters, traps, and treasure easily (along with adding your own monsters and traps.)

An editible wandering monster table that rolls itself (including chance of monster)

The ability to write using the desktop companion.

Are you out there digital alchemy? I'd like to see some changes in your product!

These features would make Cartoforge something I would actually USE at the table. I've really had fun with the mapper, but the "customizable attributes" for the "cast" section only take numerals, so naming one "damage" is pointless, since you can't put in the "d" and "+" of 1d8+3. Again, I want d20 specific.

I LOVE the ACE XP calculator. It's the bomb. Don't know what I did without it. Probably pay for the shareware when payday comes around.

John

 

[BeerSkunk]

DSForgeworks

Thanks for the plug, Talmar. Checks in the mail.

I am currently working on the next version of DSForgeworks. We've been hosting a beta test since November of 04, and based on the feedback from that test we've begun developing a more robust solution that will incorporate all of the features listed on our website. We expect to have v2.0 ready for launch by the end of August 2005.

If anyone would like to preview the latest version of the software, you're more than welcome to post a message on our message boards requesting access to the beta test forums.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Doh! I can't believe I failed to plug my OWN PalmOS utilities!

Designed to speed up needlessly complex rules, my 3.0 jump calculator worked out the DC to jump any distance (not needed since 3.5 streamlined the rules beautifully there) and a craft calculator which you can input the value, the DC, the skill and then click either "take 10" or "roll normally" and it calculates how long it takes and how much it costs (including wastage of materials rolls"). Incidentally it demonstrates nicely that if "take 10" will meet the DC, you are almost always better off doing that than risking a failure

 

[Ranger REG]

my hat of electronics at the table knows no limits.


diaglo "once had an electronic D&D board game back in the early 80's" Ooi

Diaglo, our Resident D&D Amish.